When it comes to Celtic leaders who defended their land from the encroaching Romans, one figure instantly comes to mind—the famous war-queen Boudicca and her equally famous (and sometimes historically inaccurate) chariot. It’s easy to assume that she was the only Celtic leader to rally against the invaders; in actual fact, there are several others who haven’t achieved nearly the same fame as Boudicca.

The Romans were efficient and ruthless, so fighting them was no easy feat. As such, not every Celtic leader who went against the Romans had a happy ending. Regardless, here are ten leaders who dared challenge the might of Rome in the name of the Celts.

10 Boduognatus

Boduognatus was the leader of the Nervii people. His name translates to “he who was born of the battle crow,” which tells you what kind of person he was.

Boduogantus was one of the few leaders who came close to defeating Caesar in the battlefield. In the Battle of the Sabis, he led some 40,000 Celts—with 60,000 more hidden in a nearby forest—against eight of Caesar’s legions (two of which consisted of the “baggage train”).

During the battle, the 40,000 Celts fled into the forest, hoping to draw the Romans in, but they didn’t give chase. That didn’t stop the Celts, who then gave a surprise charge that took Caesar’s forces off guard. The Romans acted quickly to get into a defensive stance and managed to turn the tide, but it was a Pyrrhic victory at best.

9 Vercingetorix

Vercingetorix lived from 82 to 46 BC and was the chieftain of the Arverni. His name translates to the very ambitious “Victor of a Hundred Battles.”

Vercingetorix put himself on the Celtic timeline when he arranged a rebellion to stop Caesar from subjugating the people of Gaul. Not much is known about Vercingetorix’s life before his revolt; even his name was given to him after he came into the spotlight. His real name was kept secret, as the Celts believed that knowing someone’s real name gave the enemy power.

Vercingetorix would use his forces to disrupt Roman trade lines and goad fights in his favor, but he fumbled when he lost a battle and fled. Caesar countered with a siege against Vercingetorix’s fortress. Vercingetorix was taken to Rome to show off Caesar’s prowess, before being executed six years later.

8 Caratacus

King of the Catuvellauni, Caratacus led his army with his brother. Combined, they helped to stave off the Roman armies for almost nine years. His own forces were outnumbered by the Romans, so he drew out the conquest by picking spots that were easy to defend and worked to repel the oncoming forces for as long as he could. He was regarded as a hero even after he lost the battle against Ostorious Scapula in AD 51 and was captured.

Even after his capture, Caratacus caught a break. He was well-known for his character, which played an important part when he was brought before Claudius for trial in Rome. His heart-capturing final speech caused Claudius to pardon him for his actions. He and his family lived the rest of their lives in Italy.

7 Ambiorix

Ambiorix was nothing short of a slippery character. Leader of the Eburones tribe, he managed to get on the good side of a legion and half of Caesar’s troops. He used the insider information gleaned to start a revolt and attack the camp.

When the attack failed, he managed to convince the camp that the revolts were widespread, Caesar had fled Gail, and that Germans were on the way to massacre the Romans. The camp fled, only to be nearly wiped out in an ambush set up for them.

It was Caesar’s worst loss in the Gallic War, so he wanted revenge. He wiped out the rebels, leaving Ambiorix for last. Ambiorix knew he was severely outnumbered, so when the Romans came for him, he simply told his army to spread out and flee. He hid in the woods, never to be seen again.

6 Cassivellaunus

Cassivellaunus played a vital role in opposing Caesar during his second invasion against the Celts. Caesar had learned from his mistakes during his first invasion, so instead of bringing two legions, he brought five. This was, obviously, a giant problem for the Celts, so they weren’t very confident in enaging the Romans in a straight fight.

Cassivellaunus responded by denying Caesar a proper fight, instead backpedaling into the woods and making guerilla strikes against the forces. The Romans made heavy use of chariots, which Cassivellaunus made sure to capitalize on in his surprise attacks.

Cassivellaunus would eventually have his stronghold ratted out by other captured Celtic leaders. His stronghold fell to the Romans, and Cassivellaunus fled. He tried one last attack on a Roman camp, but he failed and sued for surrender. He had to promise not to wage war against the Romans again but was otherwise left alone.

5 Dumnorix

Dumnorix was the leader of an anti-Roman faction in the Aedui tribe, which was mostly allied with Caesar. He joined Orgetorix and his Helvetii as they migrated from modern Switzerland to France. Caesar wasn’t too pleased with this and denied them travel across his lands.

Dumnorix got permission from the Sequani to cross their lands, where pro-Rome Aedui lived. Caesar didn’t like this, so he cut off Dumnorix with the Battle of the Ara. Even worse, the pro-Rome Aedui had taken poorly to Dumnorix and attacked, meaning that he had to fight two different forces.

The Romans managed to defeat some of the Helvetian forces, so the armies settled into negotiations. However, they fell apart. Dumnorix continued the migration, but the Romans shadowed them. He was eventually taken hostage by Caesar. He was killed after he tried to flee the camp in which he was kept.

4 Convictolitavis

Convictolitavis came into the picture when he and Cotos fought over leadership of the Aedui tribe. Caesar helped Convictolitavis to win in hopes that he’d help fight against Vercingetorix, but Convictolitavis told Caesar that he “did not owe him anything”—something that would bite Caesar later on.

When Caesar led his army against Vercingetorix in a siege of Gergovia, he expected Convictolitavis to help him. Instead, Convictolitavis revealed his true colors and aided Vercingetorix midway into the fight, catching Caesar unaware and causing him to lose the battle entirely. It was one of the few times where Caesar had been simply outdone.

3 Viridomarus

Viridomarus (or Britomartus, depending on translation) was a Gallic king in 222 BC. Not much is known about him, other than how attacked the Roman village of Clastidium. Unfortunately for him, a particularly successful Roman cavalry leader named M. Claudius Marcellus caught wind of his attack. Marcellus redirected his army to Clastidium and attacked Viridomarus’s forces from the front and then from the sides and rear, which broke Viridomarus’s army.

Trying to make something good of a bad situation, Viridomarus challenged Marcellus to single mounted combat. Marcellus accepted and won the duel, which earned Marcellus a spolia opima (spoils from a slain commander) for killing a Gallic king.

2 Venutius

Venutius was king of the Brigantes, along with his wife, Queen Cartimandua. When Caratacus arrived at Brigantium to find support against the Romans, Cartimandua responded by capturing him and turning him over to Caesar. Venutius disliked this move, and when Cartimandua divorced him for his armor-bearer, Vellocatus, he began a revolt that was initially against Cartimandua but then escalated into an anti-Roman cause. The Romans stepped in, quelled the revolt, and brought the couple back together again.

Venutius wasn’t done, however. During the Roman “year of four emperors” (AD 68 to 69), the Roman government was unstable. Using this weakness, Venutius staged another revolt. Cartimandua asked Rome for aid but got only auxiliary units. She was eventually overthrown by Venutius, who acted as a thorn in Rome’s side until his defeat.

1 Brennus

We’ve already covered a war leader named Brennus (see “10 Forgotten Conquerors From Ancient History”). This is a different Brennus, who appeared in the fourth century AD and fought against the Romans.

Brennus has an especially large claim to fame, since he was the first commander to sack Rome. He commanded his forces in the Battle of the Allia over Rome, which ended in Brennus’s victory and the Gallic Celts managing to secure a large majority of the city. The Romans negotiated Brennus’ leave with 450 kilograms (1,000 lb) of gold. Brennus responded by using overly heavy weights on the scales used to measure the gold and then threw his own sword atop the weights and said, “Vae Victis,” or “Woe to the vanquished.”

S.E. Batt is a freelance writer and author. He enjoys a good keyboard, cats, and tea, even though the three of them never blend well together. You can follow his antics over at @Simon_Batt or his fiction website at sebatt.com

Celtic mythology is mainly from Britain, though not so much England. These are the tales of the druids, the Irish Otherworld, the folklore of Wales and Scotland. It’s also, in part, the basis for Arthurian legend. 

Unsurprisingly for tales of gods in battle, there are plenty of crazy weapons. From swords and spears to monstrous siege engines, here are ten of the most overpowered.

10. Lorg Mor

Lorg Mór, or Lorg Anfaid, “the Staff of Wrath,” was a forked stick so big it needed a wheel—and eight men to pull it, leaving furrow-like trails in the ground. It belonged to the Dagda, the father of the gods and patron of the druids. One end killed enemies (nine in one blow), while the other revived the dead with just a touch.

To give you some idea of the Dagda’s huge size, at the Second Battle of Mag Tuired he ate porridge from a “great pit in the ground” using a spoon big enough “for a man and a woman to lie together in.”

Also in the Dagda’s possession was a magic cauldron from which he drew unlimited food, enough to supply whole armies, and a magical harp to boost or crush an army’s morale. Once, when it was stolen by the evil Fomorians, this harp leapt off the wall and killed the thieves present merely at the sound of his voice.

9. Dyrnwyn

According to Welsh legend, an early name for Britain, when gods walked the earth, was Clas Myrddin, or “Myrddin’s Enclosure.” It’s where Myrddin was imprisoned, in a house made of air “by enchantment so strong it may never be undone” as long as “the world endureth.” Though he was later Christianized (culturally vandalized) to Merlin—the wizard of Arthurian romance—Myrddin was once such a powerful god that the Greeks considered him Kronos, i.e. the Titan and father of Zeus. 

In any case, Myrddin took with him the Thirteen Treasures of Britain, among which was a sword called Dyrnwyn, or “White-Hilt”. This was once the weapon of Rhydderch Hael, the King of Strathclyde in Scotland. And its power was to burst into flames, lightsaber-like, from the hilt to the tip—but only if the wielder was worthy. If they were unworthy, they would burst into flames instead. Hence, while Rhydderch was happy to lend it to others (earning him the nickname “the Generous”), few took him up on the offer.

8. Moralltach

Moralltach, “Great Fury,” belonged to Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (pronounced Dermot O’Dyna), foster son of Aengus the sex god. He got it from his mentor Manannán, son of the sea god Lir. A reliable long sword, it left no strike unfinished and always followed through with a kill. It was therefore reserved for the most deadly fights. For lesser confrontations, Diarmuid had Beagalltach, or “Little Fury,” Moralltach’s gentler counterpart.

One night, when Diarmuid and his lover, Gráinne, were woken three times by the sound of a dog, he armed himself only with Beagalltach to investigate—despite Gráinne begging him to take Moralltach instead. “How can danger arise from such a small affair?” he said. When he arrived at the scene, he found a boar hunt in progress—but this was no ordinary boar. Years before, his foster father Aengus squeezed a wizard’s son to death for being more popular than Diarmuid; and in revenge, the wizard turned the corpse into a boar and tasked it with Diarmuid’s destruction—one day. Now realizing that day was upon him, Diarmuid realized his mistake and exclaimed: “Woe to him who does not follow the advice of a good wife!” Although he tried striking the boar on the neck with Beagalltach, it glanced off without leaving a mark. In the end Diarmuid was killed.

Had he brought Moralltach, he could have split the boar in half in one blow. In fact, he once destroyed a whole army with the sword, rushing “through them and under them and over them, like a wolf among sheep, or a hawk among sparrows, cleaving and slaughtering them, till only a few were left.”

7. Claiomh Solais

Forged for Nuada, the king of the gods, Claíomh Solais (or Chloive Solais) was a “Sword of Light.” It was also one of the Four Treasures of the Tuatha Dé Dannan (i.e. the gods)—alongside the Lia Fáil (or “Stone of Destiny”), Lugh’s spear, and the cauldron of the Dagda. Once this sword was drawn, there was no escaping. No-one could resist, nor kill its wielder. And if any but the owner tried to wield it, it screamed like a magical car alarm.

Claíomh Solais appears in numerous Irish folk tales and even spread to Scotland. It may also have inspired King Arthur’s sword Excalibur.

6. Gae Bulg

Made from a sea monster’s bones, Gáe Bulg (“barbed spear”) was practically indestructible. It belonged to the hero Cú Chulainn, who got it from his teacher, the warrior goddess Scáthach. This was no casual gift; he was the only one of her students to prove capable of wielding it. For one thing, it had to be thrown by foot—launched from the toes with a kick. Also, because it always guaranteed a kill, it had to be responsibly used.

When Gáe Bulg entered an enemy’s body, it filled it with barbs. Sources vary as to how many; some say 30, others 49. Either way it made such a mess of the target that retrieval of the weapon took time. It couldn’t just be pulled from the corpse, it had to be dug out with a knife. Needless to say, it was much better suited to one-on-one duels than fighting on the battlefield. But it was a dishonorable weapon. 

Cú Chulainn only used it when not doing so would lead to his death. Being such a unbeatable warrior himself, this meant he only ever used it to kill Ireland’s very best—usually after long fights, just as they were about to kill him. It looks like he used it three times, against his young son Connla (ripping up his belly), Queen Medb’s champion Loch (splitting his heart in two), and his best friend Ferdiad (filling “every limb and crevice with wounds”).

5. Luin of Celtchar

The enchanted spear of the hero Celtchar apparently had a mind of its own. When it sensed an enemy, it writhed uncontrollably until it got blood, and if it didn’t it would turn on its wielder. The only other way to “quench” the spear’s bloodlust was to immerse it in a cauldron of venom.

It could also kill targets from a distance, without touching them; you simply had to thrust it in place. If it was thrown, though, it killed nine men at once—always including a king, a royal heir, or a “plundering chieftain.”

Celtchar used the Lúin against the god who slept with his wife, and later lost his own life to the weapon. It was found abandoned on the battlefield of Mag Tuired.

4. Lugh’s Spear

Also known as Gae Assail, Lugh’s spear was, as mentioned, one of the Four Treasures of the gods, or Tuatha Dé Danann—that is, one of the four crowning achievements of their mastery of magic. Confusingly, however, it’s also said to have been stolen, on Lugh’s orders, from its original owner the King of Persia. Either way, it made Lugh unbeatable. According to the Cath Maige Tuired, an old Irish saga about the Battle of Mag Tuired, “No battle was ever won against it or him who held it in his hand.” 

One of the most important of the old Celtic gods, Lugh’s name survives in place names like Lyon in France (from Lugdunum, the “fortress of Lugh”). As a sun god, he’s compared to Apollo. He was also the grandson of Balor—the Sauron-like king who tried to kill him as a baby when a prophecy warned that Lugh would destroy him. If you’re familiar with Greek or Roman mythology, you’ll notice the parallels to the story of Kronos/Saturn devouring his sons. Similar to Zeus, Lugh escaped death and was adopted by the sea god Manannán, growing up to be the god of arts and crafts. Later, as prophesied, he killed Balor—using his magical spear. Like Thor’s hammer, it always returned to its thrower. And it never missed. 

Interestingly, while all the old gods are diminished today, Lugh has been diminished more than most. Over the years, this mighty warrior, sun god, and “Master of All Arts” became the simple fairy craftsman Lugh-chromain, or “little stooping Lugh”—a figure we now call the leprechaun.

3. Fragarach

Another of Lugh’s weapons was a sword called Fragarach, or “The Answerer.” Originally forged by the gods for Nuada, the High King of Ireland, it was meant to be wielded on the Lia Fáil stone (the “Stone of Destiny”) so that when the stone roared to confirm the true king, Fragarach would whisper in reply. 

But it did a lot more than that. It could also draw the truth from anyone’s lips, drain their strength from a distance, and penetrate all kinds of armor—including shields and walls. It also flew from the scabbard to the hand on command. And as if that wasn’t enough, this Swiss Army knife of magic swords killed anyone it struck within seconds, even if the wound was just slight. It could also control the weather.

Not being a king himself, Lugh got the sword when Nuada lost an arm fighting the Fomorians. So equipped, he rushed to the aid of the Tuatha Dé Danann, saving them from paying tribute to Balor. Again calling to mind Apollo, it’s said that when they saw him coming, Fragarach in hand, aboard the self-steering boat of a sea god, it felt like beholding a sunrise. Immediately, Lugh killed almost all the Fomorians, sparing just nine to take a message to Balor: There wouldn’t be any more tributes.

2. Caladbolg

Like all the best swords, Caladbolg passed through a number of hands—Fergus mac Róich‘s among them. This Ulster king, the greatest of all Ulster heroes, had huge genitalia, requiring seven women to satisfy him. He was also Cú Chulainn’s tutor and, in later tales, Queen Medb (Maeve)’s lover.

Swung with two hands, Caladbolg swept down whole ranks of men in a colorful arc like a rainbow. It could even alter the landscape. At the Battle of Garach, Fergus—mad with fury at his stepson Conchobar for stealing his throne—cuts down hundreds of his own men to strike at his rival. But he only manages to hit Conchobar’s shield before Cormac, Conchobar’s son, intervenes, persuading Fergus to spare his father’s life. Fergus then turns on another man present, Conall, Cú Chulainn’s twin, who grabs hold of Fergus and manages to bring him to his senses. Like a fungus-crazed berserker, however, he still had to vent his “battle-fury.” So he “smote among the hills with his rainbow-sword,” striking off the tops of three peaks—for which they became known as the maela or “flat-tops” of Meath.

The name Caladbolg literally means “hard (or crushing) lightning,” and it survives in the name of Excalibur. In fact, the two swords are thought to be one and the same. The Welsh name for Caladbolg, Caledfwlch, was Latinized to Caliburnus and later became Excalibur.

1. Balor’s Eye

Balor, king of the Fomorians, had an eye like a siege engine. It was only ever opened on the battlefield and took four men to lift up the lid. Once it was opened, not only could the eye reduce armies to ashes, it could also lay waste to whole regions. This apparently explains the islands west of Scotland, which “remain bleak and haunted to this day.”

The eye was so dangerous, in fact, that in addition to the eyelid, it was usually kept covered by seven cloaks. Removing each of these had progressively destructive effects: The first withered ferns, the second browned grass, the third heated trees, the fourth got them smoldering, the fifth got them hot, and the last two set the landscape ablaze.

Ironically, it was through this eye that Lugh killed Balor. In their fateful confrontation, the two met on the battlefield and Lugh began to speak. Balor turned to one of his men, saying “lift up mine eyelid, my lad, that I may see the babbler who is conversing with me.” Then, as soon as it was uncovered, Lugh released a stone from his sling, carrying the eye through Balor’s head and out the other side so that only his own men could see it—killing them instantly.

As the most ghoulish celebration on the calendar, Halloween has long evolved to become the sugar-loaded spook-fest that we know today. However, its origins lie in the Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated by the pagan Celts who lived in modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, and parts of Europe over 2,000 years ago.

Many of the Halloween traditions we celebrate today evolved during more recent centuries, alongside the spread of Christianity in the West. Nevertheless, while documentary evidence is a little sparse, it looks like many of these older traditions can trace their roots back further still to the Celts. Here are 10 Celtic Samhain traditions that appear to live on in the way we celebrate Halloween today.

10 Waiting for the Darkness

Most Halloween fun tends to take place under cover of darkness. From trick-or-treating to costume parties, the majority of our traditions occur at night. An emphasis on the supernatural significance of darkness was central to the Celtic festival of Samhain. The name Samhain itself means “Summer’s End” in the Gaelic language of the Celts, but it also refers to the Celtic spiritual figure of the same name. Samhain was known in Celtic mythology as the lord of the winter—a time when the world became cloaked in darkness. Each year, as summer drew to a close, he would engage in a six-month battle of light versus dark with the sun-god Bael.

The Celtic calendar itself was divided into two halves: the light and the dark. The Samhain festival was one of four fire festivals that marked important parts of the year, with Samhain marking the beginning of the dark half of the year. Each part of the year was significant to the Celts for their own reasons, but the darkness of winter was a particularly tough one. Just like the traditions of today, Samhain celebrations long past embraced that darkness.^[1]

9 Celebrating the Fall

Just like today, Samhain was celebrated from October 31st until November 1st and marked the halfway point of fall. In fact, it took place exactly midway between the fall equinox and the winter solstice, which was the time of year when the all-important harvest was gathered.

This point in the year when autumn begins to touch winter was also seen as a time when this world would collide with the next. It was considered the point at which the veil between worlds was at its thinnest and, thus, when the spirits of the dead were most likely to enter the world of the living. This belief, combined with the Celtic themes of darkness and death that accompany this time of year, has resulted in current celebrations being associated with all things spooky.^[2]

8 All That Partying

Along with New Year’s Eve, Halloween is probably one of the biggest party nights of the year. People of pretty much any age will usually receive an invitation or two to a Halloween shindig. The Celts liked a good party, too, and Samhain was one of their biggest festivals. They may even have partied harder than us, as early texts indicate that it was a mandatory celebration that could last up to three days. Some documents even mention an absolute excess of drinking and gluttonous eating, which doesn’t sound all that different from the celebrations of today.

The modern custom of standing around an open fire on a chilly Halloween night is similar to Celtic Samhain fire traditions as well. In fact, it was a crucial part of the communal festivities. During the Celts’ harvest period, the hearth fires of family homes were left to burn out. Once work on the harvest was complete, people would celebrate by joining priests in lighting a ritual communal fire. The fire was ignited using a wheel that caused friction and sparks and was considered a representation of the sun. Next time you want to compete with your neighbors’ Halloween decorations, perhaps a blazing Celtic wheel might be the key to outdoing them!^[3

7 Some Familiar Scary Faces

Given that Samhain was associated with a breach between the worlds, it’s unsurprising that a few ghouls and monsters of Celtic mythology were also tied with the festival. Some of these included a shape-shifting creature called a Pukah, as well as a headless woman who would chase those wandering about at night.

The witches associated with Halloween today may be linked with a pagan figure known as the Crone, who was celebrated during Samhain. Known as the Earth Mother, she symbolized wisdom, change, and the shifting of seasons.

One of the scariest mythological figures was, however, one that still terrifies us today: the headless horseman. Known as the Dullahan to the Celts, the horseman was said to be the embodiment of the fertility god Crom Dubh. He was said to demand blood sacrifice in the form of decapitation and was described as having a face of decayed flesh. Not the most attractive of gods, but at least he would make for a great Halloween costume.^[4]

6 Dressing Up

Although donning a scary costume to go trick-or-treating has obvious ties with the Medieval custom of “mumming” or “souling,” its practice appears to go back even further. Given that the Celts believed that spirits could cross over during Samhain, they held the suspicion that ghosts and ghouls might try to trick, haunt, or curse them. In order to prevent this, they would often dress up as monsters themselves to fool the evil spirits.

Another fear was that faeries might steal your soul during Samhain. As well as disguising themselves as monsters, Celtic pagans would mitigate this eventuality by dressing up as animals. So, wearing a cute bunny costume at Halloween may not be so silly after all!^[5]

5 Carving Pumpkins

That familiar orange glow burning from a toothy jack-o-lantern may trace its roots back to the Celts as well. Some historians believe the tradition of carving heads out of root vegetables may harken back to pagan customs of head veneration. This idea may have taken greater hold during Samhain when creepy faces were carved into vegetables as another tactic for warding off restless souls. Initially, carving beets, potatoes, and turnips seems to have been favorable, as there was typically an abundance of them after the harvest.

Another slightly more functional advantage to carving lanterns from vegetables was their practical purpose for the Celts. It was a far more affordable option than using expensive metal ones.^[6]

4 Orange and Black

Stroll around any neighborhood during the Halloween season, and there can be little doubt that the holiday has a very specific color theme—orange and black. From banners to napkins and candle holders, homes are awash with the distinctive color pallet. For the Celts, the color black represented the darkness of the winter months that Samhain would usher in. It also held significance as a symbol of death, both in terms of the deceased spirits who would mingle with the living during the festival, as well as the death of nature as winter drew near.

The use of the color orange was also twofold for the Celts. On the one hand, it represented the gradual turning of leaves from green to orange as summer came to an end. In addition to this, it reflects the burning embers of the ritual and community fires that were lit during the festival.^[7]

3 Trick-or-Treating

Both the tricking and the treating aspects of this quintessential Halloween tradition have links to Celtic Samhain customs. The belief in evil spirits crossing over may have led not only to the Celts dressing up as monsters to trick them but also fueled the fear that they themselves would be tricked. One particular concern centered around the belief that evil spirits might come to your door disguised as a beggar. If you refused to give them a handout, they would transform before your eyes and place a curse upon your soul.

One method of dealing with those pesky spirits and faeries was to placate them by leaving a generous banquet or food offering outside your home. As a pagan society, it also wasn’t uncommon for the Celts to leave ritual offerings during this precarious time of year.^[8]

2 Bobbing for Apples

Dunking your head in water to fish out some apples dates back to the Celts, too, although it’s unlikely that their versions were candied. With the boundaries between worlds thinned out during Samhain, the Celts believed it was the ideal time of year to tell fortunes and prophesize the future.

Fruits of the harvest seem to have been the most common items used to predict someone’s destiny, especially apples and nuts. Apple bobbing was one of the most popular practices, and it was believed that the first person to bite into one would be the first to marry.^[9]

1 Telling Ghost Stories

Just like Halloween celebrants today, the Celts enjoyed freaking out their friends with a terrifying story or two. “The Second Battle of Mag Tuired” seems to have been one of the most popular Samhain stories told around the festival fire. The myth tells of a great conflict that took place over the course of Samhain. It describes the final battle between the Celtic pantheon of the Tuatha dé Danann and their evil tormentors, the Fir Bolg.

Another Celtic story involving Samhain centered around the adventures of a hero named Nera. The warrior Nera was dared by a king to place a willow branch at the foot of a corpse. Accepting the task leads Nera on a journey through a strange Other World that bordered the land of the living. Within this strange world, he has all manner of supernatural encounters. It’s a tale that sounds just as exciting as some of those we hear around Halloween today!^[10]